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Commission approves UW park-and-ride at 2230 Pennsylvania Ave.; commissioners debate long-term land-use implications
Summary
The Madison Plan Commission unanimously approved a 229-space private park-and-ride for University of Wisconsin staff at 2230 Pennsylvania Ave., subject to staff conditions including additional screening, a sidewalk connection, traffic-engineering approval and EV-ready stalls.
The Madison Plan Commission on April 7 unanimously approved a conditional use and a certified survey map to develop a private park-and-ride facility at 2230 Pennsylvania Avenue to be used by the University of Wisconsin.
Planning staff said the lot would contain 229 parking spaces, two motorcycle spaces and six bicycle spaces. A university shuttle would pick up riders in a loading area on-site, operating roughly every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes off-peak on weekdays; limited weekend service was described as possible for special events. Staff recommended approval with conditions that include traffic-engineering approval of a drop-off/pickup plan, a sidewalk connection to the loading area, additional screening along Pennsylvania Avenue to meet Urban Design District requirements, and compliance with stormwater ordinances.
William Butcher, representing the project team, told the commission the applicant worked with staff to design a sustainable lot and agreed to the staff and Urban Design Commission recommendations: "We're amenable and agreeable to all of those," he said. He and other project representatives said the lot is intended to replace parking that the university currently uses nearer campus and to shuttle employees, reducing the need for individual cars downtown.
The project will include electric-vehicle readiness for more stalls than the minimum: the applicant said the development will be built with power to 23 EV-ready stalls and that the University expects to install about 20 chargers. The project team said UW has a 15-year lease for use of the lot.
Commissioners raised questions about the site's future highest-and-best use and whether a time-limited approval could be imposed. Planning staff noted that state statute provides limits on local discretion where applicants agree to meet ordinance conditions, but also said the zoning code (supplemental regulations for non-accessory parking facilities, subchapter 28J) allows the commission to limit the duration of a conditional use. One late public comment suggested a five-year limit; staff advised that any time limit be tied to a clear conditional-use standard.
Alder Ugar moved to find that conditional-use standards were met and approve the private parking facility subject to staff conditions; Commissioner Solheim seconded. The commission then unanimously approved the certified survey map for the parcel following a separate motion by Commissioner Heck and a second from Alder Ugar.
Ending: The commission approved both the conditional use and the certified survey map, with conditions requiring additional screening, sidewalk connections and traffic engineering sign-off; staff and the applicant will continue to respond to follow-up questions about operations and outreach.
